Court ruling on Taça das Bolinhas; Flamengo and São Paulo vie | OneFootball

The 1987 Brazilian Championship still sparks debate

Flamengo suffered another setback in the legal dispute involving the traditional Taça das Bolinhas. This Wednesday (05), the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice (TJ-RJ) rejected the request filed by the red-and-black club to overturn the decision regarding possession of the trophy, upholding the understanding that the prize should go to São Paulo.

Despite the ruling in favor of the São Paulo club, the Taça das Bolinhas remains in the custody of Caixa Econômica Federal. Now, with the court’s new position, São Paulo will be able to officially request delivery of the trophy. Flamengo, however, does not intend to give up.

HOW DID THE TJ-RJ JUSTIFY THE DECISION?

When analyzing Flamengo’s appeal, appellate judge Fábio Uchoa Pinto de Miranda Montenegro, the case rapporteur, stated that the discussion over possession of the Taça das Bolinhas had already been resolved in previous instances and therefore could not be reopened by the Rio de Janeiro courts. In the ruling, the judge also reinforced the established understanding that Sport is the sole Brazilian champion of 1987. As a result, São Paulo remains recognized as the first club to meet the criteria established to receive the trophy.

WHAT MOTIVATED FLAMENGO’S NEW APPEAL?

Last week, Flamengo reported that it had obtained a favorable ruling in the Federal Court of São Paulo. On that occasion, the 12th Federal Civil Court reexamined the case at the request of the Rio club and understood that jurisdiction to decide the fate of the Taça das Bolinhas belonged to the Federal Court of Rio de Janeiro.

As a result, the trophy remained in the custody of Caixa Econômica Federal while the judicial decision was still pending. Flamengo stated at the time that it remained confident in the definitive recognition of its right to the award. However, with the new TJ-RJ ruling, the understanding once again favored São Paulo, which now believes it has legal grounds to request delivery of the Taça.

WHY IS THE TAÇA DAS BOLINHAS THE SUBJECT OF A DISPUTE?

Created in 1975 by the then Brazilian Sports Confederation (CBD), the Taça das Bolinhas was to be awarded to the first club to win either three consecutive Brazilian titles or five overall titles in non-consecutive fashion. The impasse arose because Flamengo believes it met that requirement by winning the 1992 Brazilian Championship. However, the definition depends directly on the official recognition of the 1987 national champion.

In 2011, the CBF recognized Flamengo as champion of that edition. However, in 2018, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) upheld Sport as the sole Brazilian champion of 1987. With that understanding, São Paulo came to be considered the first club to reach five national titles, after winning the 2007 Brasileirão, thereby consolidating its right to the Taça das Bolinhas.

WHAT IS THE AUTHOR’S OPINION?

— São Paulo’s stance in this case surprises me. The club was one of the architects and leaders of the 1987 Brasileirão won by Flamengo; there are videos with statements from the club’s president at the time, Carlos Miguel Aidar, acknowledging that Mengão are the 1987 champions. Therefore, São Paulo should take the trophy and hand it over to Flamengo. It would be a gesture of greatness from the Morumbi club —, opined Pedro Paulo Catonho, journalist for Coluna do Fla.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.